Cara's Basement

American Idol just crowned Phillip Phillips the winner, and he couldn't be any more modest about it. He's got it all...talent, drive, and even humility. He's very humble in this interview which is refreshing from such a hugely popular artist. His current song "Home" sold 278,000 digital copies its first week, setting an AI record...that's more downloads than any other coronation song (the official single celebrating the winner's victory) in American Idol history.

Yay for Phillip!

Alanis Morisette is releasing her first album in four years. "Havoc And Bright Lights" will be released in August, but you can already download Guardian from iTunes. In this quick conversation she talks about the meaning of that song and album title, attatchment parenting, and how quickly she is able to write a song.

Boy, Dee Snider has done it all. Lead singer of Twisted Sister. Sitcoms, reality TV, broadway, father, husband...and now author. His new book "Shut Up And Give Me The Mic" is a great read. You'll realize how a positive attitude can get you through anything - sure worked with him!

He has two book signings soon in Chicago

• May 13: Costco, 2745 N. Clybourn, Chicago 1p-4p
• May 14: Barnes and Noble, 55 Old Orchard Center, Skokie 7p

Get more information at www.DeeSnider.com

Happy Holidays! Here's is my gift to you: a rarely heard conversation with Adele before she hit it big with her album 21. Since she can't do interviews at the moment while she continues to heal from throat surgery so this is the only audio interview with her you'll get to hear for a while.

This interview was done way back in 2008. Her first album was doing okay at time and she had recently appeared on Saturday Night Live on what turned out to be their most watched episode (thanks to an appearance from Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential election campaign), so folks in the USA were just starting to hear about Adele.

Some key moments of this conversation is very foretelling of the future. For example, Adele jokes about how she's far too happy at the moment to write her next album because she doesn't write happy songs, so she'll need to experience life for a bit. Eventually she went through a heartwrenching breakup that spawned her current hit album 21 which is up for several grammys! And keep in mind that Adele is only 19 years old at the time of this interview. Clearly she was already a very grounded, intellegent woman with globs of talent. It's no wonder she became the international success that she is today!

Be sure to grab your free download of The House On Shady Lane: www.PlainWhiteTs.com or www.TheHouseOnShadyLane.com

Plain White T's play The House Of Blues in Chicago Sunday, October 30, 2011.

Evanescence plays The Congress Theatre in Chicago on Saturday, October 22, 2011.

Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor of Duran Duran chat about many things...how Danny DeVito and Donald Trump like to rock out at their shows...and more!

Duran Duran plays The Chicago Theatre on Friday, October 21, 2011.

Sara Bareilles plays the Riviera Theatre in Chicago on 10/11/2011.

Blues Traveler plays the Raue Center For The Arts in Crystal Lake, IL on Sunday, August 21, 2011. Chan Kinchla talks about that show, their 25th anniversary next year, what it's like touring with kids, how cool Bruce Willis is, and more!

Jani Lane was found dead in a hotel room in Woodland Hills, California. He was a great dad, great rocker, and a great friend. I spoke with a shared mutual friend of ours, Billy McCarthy (he was Billy Dior in The D'Molls), about this sudden sad news...